Japan color coded wire convention - 12v

[Norm.Mareeba]

Hi all;
I ordered in a simple electronic device for my motorcycle. It came from Japan and, of course, the instructions are in Japanese.

I can tell from the diagrams (which are in english - LOL) that one wire goes to ground and the other wire goes to power (+12v) but I can't figure out which wire goes where.

One wire is black and the other wire is black/white.

Is there some "color code convention" that will tell me which is which? I'd hate to blow the unit just because I didn't ask. I asked the manufacturer and their answer is simply that there are no english instructions. E/gad!

Thanks, Norm

[RayG]

Hi Norm,

A picture might help, if there are metal mounting points you can measure resistance between the mountings and the supply wiring. It's a 50/50 chance that one of the wires might be grounded.

If it's fully potted, and there are only just the two wires coming out of a block of plastic, then in that case, hook up a low wattage 12v globe in series with the power supply, and you might be able to limit the damage if you get it wrong.. :)

Black is sometimes +ve in Japanese sensors, and white is sometimes a switched output, but I don't think that helps you here..

Regards
Ray

[Norm.Mareeba]

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Hi Norm,

A picture might help, if there are metal mounting points you can measure resistance between the mountings and the supply wiring. It's a 50/50 chance that one of the wires might be grounded.

If it's fully potted, and there are only just the two wires coming out of a block of plastic, then in that case, hook up a low wattage 12v globe in series with the power supply, and you might be able to limit the damage if you get it wrong.. :)

Black is sometimes +ve in Japanese sensors, and white is sometimes a switched output, but I don't think that helps you here..

Regards
Ray

Thanks Ray, you're right so I posted a few pictures. Sorry, that they are displayed in reverse order.

I too had hoped that one wire would be grounded to the metal case, unfortunately that was not to be. That's when I began to wonder if there was a color code convention....

Yes, I have a 50/50 chance of being right - there is only two wires and two ways to hook it up. Good odds, and also they might have built in a circuit protection so it'll work or not without ruining the device.

...but it's worth asking a question first...

Take a look and tell me what you think. I can also scan the directions if that helps..

Norm

[_fly_]

I found a few websites that talk about plasma boosters installation.
http://www.minimania.com/pdfile/NME4110_INSTR.pdf
and
Ignition Solutions' Plasma Booster - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine (http://www.mustang50magazine.com/howto/138_0307_ignition_solutions_plasma_booster/viewall.html)
and
Plasmabooster Ignition System Installation and Test - FordMuscle (http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2002/12/plasmabooster/)
and
Plasma BOOSTER™ Ignition Solutions INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (http://www.rpmoutlet.com/pbb5.htm)

Assuming they are both negative and go to either side of the coil.

[RustyArc]

If you go by that first PDF, the blue-black goes to the -ve of the coil and the black goes to earth.

I assume this is for a points-style ignition and is therefore a dwell-extender?